The use of information technology (IT) in dentistry is far ranging. In order to produce a working document for the dental educator, this paper focuses on those methods where IT can assist in the education and competence development of dental students and dentists (e.g. e‐learning, distance learning, simulations and computer‐based assessment). Web pages and other information‐gathering devices have become an essential part of our daily life, as they provide extensive information on all aspects of our society. This is mirrored in dental education where there are many different tools available, as listed in this report. IT offers added value to traditional teaching methods and examples are provided. In spite of the continuing debate on the learning effectiveness of e‐learning applications, students request such approaches as an adjunct to the traditional delivery of learning materials. Faculty require support to enable them to effectively use the technology to the benefit of their students. This support should be provided by the institution and it is suggested that, where possible, institutions should appoint an e‐learning champion with good interpersonal skills to support and encourage faculty change. From a global prospective, all students and faculty should have access to e‐learning tools. This report encourages open access to e‐learning material, platforms and programs. The quality of such learning materials must have well defined learning objectives and involve peer review to ensure content validity, accuracy, currency, the use of evidence‐based data and the use of best practices. To ensure that the developers’ intellectual rights are protected, the original content needs to be secure from unauthorized changes. Strategies and recommendations on how to improve the quality of e‐learning are outlined. In the area of assessment, traditional examination schemes can be enriched by IT, whilst the Internet can provide many innovative approaches. Future trends in IT will evolve around improved uptake and access facilitated by the technology (hardware and software). The use of Web 2.0 shows considerable promise and this may have implications on a global level. For example, the one‐laptop‐per‐child project is the best example of what Web 2.0 can do: minimal use of hardware to maximize use of the Internet structure. In essence, simple technology can overcome many of the barriers to learning. IT will always remain exciting, as it is always changing and the users, whether dental students, educators or patients are like chameleons adapting to the ever‐changing landscape.

Abstract. Type I collagen is expressed in a variety of connective tissue cells and its transcriptional regulation is highly complex because of the influence of numerous developmental, environmental, and hormonal factors. To investigate the molecular basis for one aspect of this complex regulation, the expression of al(I) collagen (COLIA1) gene in osseous tissues, we fused a 3.6-kb DNA fragment between bases -3,521 and +115 of the rat COLIA1 promoter, and three deletion mutants, to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) marker gene. The expression of these CoICAT transgenes was measured in stably transfected osteoblastic cell lines ROS 17/2.8, Py-la, and MC3T3-El and three fibroblastic lines NIH-3T3, Rat-1, and EL2. Deletion of the distal 1 .2-kb fragment of the full-length CoICAT 3.6 construct reduced the promoter activity 7-to 30-fold in the osteoblastic cell lines, twofold in EL2 and had no effect in NIH-3T3 and Rat-1 cells . To begin to assess the function of COLIAI upstream regulatory elements in intact animals, we established transgenic mouse lines and T YPE I collagen is the predominant component of the extracellular matrix and is synthesized by a variety of connective tissue cells . The protein is encoded by two genes, al(I) (COL1A1)' and a2(I) collagen (COLIA2), which are expressed and regulated in a coordinated fashion . Although the regulation oftype I collagen genes is not as dramatic as other highly inducible genes, the control of their expression is extremely complex . Both are single copy nonhousekeeping genes which are active in distinctly different connective tissue cells (Ramirez and Di Liberto, 1990) including : interstitial cells that produce skin, tendon, and the framework of all organs and connective tissues of the body; smooth muscle cells of blood vessels and other viscera ; cartilage cells, in which a different RNA start site is utilized examined the activity of the CoICAT3.6 construct in various tissues of newborn animals . The expression of this construct followed the expected distribution between the high and low collagen-producing tissues : high levels of CAT activity, in calvarial bone, tooth, and tendon, a low level in skin, and no detectable activity in liver and brain . Furthermore, CAT activity in calvarial bone was three-to fourfold higher than that in the adjacent periosteal layer. IJ*munostaining for CAT protein in calvaria and developing tooth germ of CoICAT3 .6 mice also confirmed the preferred expression of the transgene in differentiated osteoblasts and odontoblasts compared to fibroblast-like cells of periosteum and dental papilla . This study suggests that the 3.6-kb DNA fragment confers the strong expression of COLIAI gene in high collagen producing tissues of intact animals and that the 5' flanking promoter sequence between -3,521 and -2,295 by contains one or more stimulatory elements which are preferentially active in osteoblastic cells. (Bennett and Adams, 1990) ; activated fibroblastic cells that are involved in tissue repair and fibrosis ; and osteoblasts and...

A kindred with dominant hypophosphatasia resulting from an alanine to threonine substitution at position 99 of the alkaline phosphatase protein is described. The clinical findings of individual members of the kindred were assessed by oral and physical examinations, or from the descriptions of multiple family members. The proband displayed enamel hypoplasia and premature loss of fully rooted primary anterior teeth, which were shown by histological examination to lack cementum. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and a vitamin B6 panel, and urine phosphoethanolamine (PEA) were measured on 21 family members. Based upon the clinical and laboratory tests, affected and unaffected status was assigned. Parametric linkage analysis of the kindred using different dominant models and frequency distributions for the disease allele and the mutation gave lodscores > 4.2 and confirmed the strong linkage between the disease and the mutation. Assuming the defined mutation causes the disease, the reliability of clinical and laboratory tests is assessed.

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This policy is a compilation of current concepts and scientific evidence required to understand and implement practice-based preventive oral health programs designed to improve oral health outcomes for all children and especially children at significant risk of dental decay. In addition, it reviews cariology and caries risk assessment and defines, through available evidence, appropriate recommendations for preventive oral health intervention by primary care pediatric practitioners. Pediatrics 2008;122:1387-1394